August 5, 2009 - The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) wishes to express its relief and support for the safe return of American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee to American soil. Thanks to the personal attention and efforts of former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore, Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee were reunited with their families today.

“The White House-sanctioned negotiations by President Clinton on behalf of the journalists’ families showed our nation’s commitment to freedom of speech and amnesty. American journalists should have the safety and respect to investigate and report the truth,” said Brad Baldia, NAAAP president. “We are pleased to know that Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee are back with their families.”

Before their plight became national news, the NAAAP Chicago chapter played an instrumental role as a supporter of the first Chicago vigil for Ling and Lee on May 21. NAAAP and the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA Chicago) jointly funded flowers and banners at the Daley Plaza event. Rose Tibayan, VP of Strategic Development for NAAAP Chicago, was an organizer for three Chicago vigils and spoke to the crowd on behalf of NAAAP. The NAAAP Colorado chapter also organized a vigil in Denver on May 21.

Ms. Ling, a Chinese American, and Ms. Lee, a Korean American, were detained in North Korea on March 17, 2009, for allegedly crossing the border between China and Korea while reporting for Current TV, an online news site. They were sentenced to 12 years in a hard labor camp in North Korea.